By Baba Adamu
Barely five days after she was kidnapped by heavily armed bandits in her country home of Numbu in the outskirts of Gwantu – Headquarters of Sanga Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Hajiya Aisha, the wife of Kaduna state coordinator of Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN), Alhaji Muhammad umar Numbu, has been released after the payment of N2m as ransom.
Aisha, 59, was picked by the bandits in her house at around 8:30 pm on Sunday, 15/05/2922, when the kidnappers invaded the house in a Commando-like operation, that expected was launched to kidnap her husband who, fortunately, was not at home, hence decided to pick his sick wife.
The kidnappers, a day after she was picked, initially called to request for N20m from the husband, as the only condition to warrant her release.
However, after series of pleads, prayers and massaging the ego of the kidnappers they later agreed to collect N2m which was generated from contributions by friends and relatives of both their captive and her husband.
Before her release, the kidnappers told their captive to inform her husband that he cannot disappear from their radar because his movements is being monitored by their informants in Gwantu, and wherever he went.
This latest activity of the kidnappers is the fourth between late last year and this year in Gwantu town and environs.
The first incident occurred late last year when Alhaji Sanusi, the eldest son of the Administrative Officer of President Muhammadu Buhari’s office, in Aso Villa, Alhaji Abubakar Abdullahi Maikano, was kidnapped, but was later released after paying undisclosed sum of money as ransom.
The second victim of kidnap was Alhaji Nuhu Bashir, the son of the District Head of Gwantu, Alhaji Bashir Muhammad, the cousin of the Administrative Officer, who was apprehended by the kidnappers when he took money meant for the release of Alhaji Sanusi.
The third incident was the failed attempt to kidnap a leading ginger farmer and a staff of NNPC, whose younger brother was shot in the process, while two brothers of his were taken away by the kidnappers, but later released after payment of undisclosed sum as ransom